Toy railway system



April 25, 1933. R 5 SMITH 1,905,571

I TOY RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 20 I5 E I8 20 l9 /2 lQ/L April 25, 1933. R (3 SMITH I 1,905,571

TOY RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 24, 1930 3 Shets-Sheet 2 April 25, 1933. R. ca. SMITH 1,905,571

TOY RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 24, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill 1, k g 76 76 F i LJ'KA Patented Apr. 25,: 1933 RONALD G. srarrn, orjramrrnrin, CONNECTICUT TOY RAILWAY s srnivr Application filed December 24,1930. Serial n, 594,519.- I

This invention relates to toy railways. .An object of this invention is't-o provide increased amusement for the children using a toy railway by providing a bridge in the track system which may be operated to lift and allow the passageof a train or other movable object under it and returned to nor mal position in WhlCll a train or other movable object may travel over it.

In the form at present preferred by, reason of its many advantages, the lift bridge is connected in the track system so that the same train may pass alternately under and over it. In connection with this arrangement, one of the salient features of this 111- vention is the provision of means controlled by the arrival of the train at a predetermined point in the system for automatically causing the bridge to be lifted .or be returned to normal. position. v

Another of theimporta-nt features of this invention, particularly in the arrangement just above referred to, is the provision of means controlled by the. bridge mechanism 125 for controlling the train so that it will not proceed beyond a predetermined point until the bridge assumes the proper position, and further, so that when the latter occurs the train will continue in its travel. either under or over the bridge, as the case may The bridge provided by this invention may be made of materials usually employed in making toys and, of course, includes not only the span but the piers and approaches preferably built as a unitary structure, although, if desired, the span, piers and approaches may be of separable parts to be assembled before'use. The spanmay be arranged to open in any of the ways usual with real bridges, or as desired.

In spite of the widevarieties of its uses and its automatic operating mechanism, the bridge of this invention may be economical.- ly made and'may be sold at a price in line with prices obtained for electrically operated railways and parts thereof.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. A H In the a companyingdrawings Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe bridge made in accordance withthis invention. r p F ig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view. show ing the manner in which the movable span is guided by the piers, J

Fig. 3is a vertical sectional view showing the actuating means for raising and lowering the bridge and the reversing switch operated by the. span when it reaches closed or opened position. for rendering the actuat- :1ng mechanism temporarily inoperative.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of parts of theactuatingmechanism and automatic switches and circuits thereof. p

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a-toy railway system in which the bridge is placed so as to permit the passage ofa train either under oroverit. 7

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 1, of a modified form of bridge structure. I

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the manner in which the tracks on the span align with the tracks on the approaches when the bridge is closed. 5 e i Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the bridge shown in Fig. 6', showing the span in closed position.

The-bridge of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 and 3 comprises a base plate 10 having piers 11 supported on. parts 12 which simulate abutments. Between the piers 11 there is provided a span 13 and leading to the span at each side thereof is an ap proach 14;. y 7 y The base 10, abutments 12 and approaches 14 may be formed ofone piece of pressed metal and the piers 11 and span 13 may be likewise made of pressed metal formed to simulate girders and cross-pieces similar. to those used in real bridge structures. The approaches 14 and span 13 may be arranged to support the usual tracks employed with toy railways, or, as shown, tracks 15 anda third rail 16 may be built in and form a permanent part of the bridge structure.

5 As stated above, the span 13 of the bridge made in acoordancewith the present inven 7 tion is mounted for movement toand from operative position sg that a tram or other 1 -moving object may pass over the bridge or under the bridge as desired. Accordingly, the span 13 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is movable relative to the piers 11 so that it may be raised and lowered by actuating mechanism 17, preferably supported by the tops of one or both piers and described in detail below. In the type of bridge shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the span is moved vertically at both ends, although other forms of movable spans may be employed as will hereinafter appear. To guide the span 13 for vertical movement,'the girders 18 of the bridge extend between the risers 19 of the piers and slidably engage the same so as to be held against swaying" sidewise. The span 13 is also provided with cross-bars 20, one near each end thereof, which slidably engage the inner risers 19 of the piers 11 and prevent endwise swaying movement of the span which, in its preferred form, is connected to the actuating mechanism by cables 21. Hence, it will be seen that the span may be either lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 or raised to that shown in Fig. 1.

In the broader aspects of this invention, the span 13 may be operated in any suitable way, but preferably the actuating mechanism 17 includes an electric motor 22 so that the bridge can be controlled from a-remote point and/or automatically. Further, the electric motor may move the bridge in one direction only, allowing it to move in the other direction under the influence of a spring or weight. But again, it is preferable, because of the facility'with which the span may thereby be controlled, to have the span move both to and from operative positions by the power applied by the motor 22 which for this purpose may be of the reversible type.

The actuating mechanism may include any suitable form of Windlass. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, there are four cables 21, a pair at each end'of the span 13 and each pair of cables 21 is wound on drums 23 carried by the shaft 24 having a worm wheel 26 driven by a worm 25 on the motor shaft. Thus, when the roper circuits are closed and the current owsthrough the motor 22 in one direction, the cables 21 will be wound up on the drums 23 to raise the bridge from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig.1, and when the circuits are -changed to cause the current to flow through the motor 22 in the other direction, the drums 23 are moved in the opposite direction to pay off the cables 21 and allow the bridge to descend to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Preferably, a yielding member such as a spring 27 .(see Fig. 3) is inserted between the end of each'cable 21 and the span 13 so. as to accommodate for an unequality in the g hs. o the. cable 21 due stretchi a substantial discrepancy between the rising movements' of the respective ends of the span. This, coupled with the provision of means in each actuating mechanism for stop ping the motor when its end of the span reaches its predetermined closed or opened position, assures the accurate location of the span in these positions.

The means provided or this purpose, in

the form of the invention herein disclosed in each actuating mechanism 17, eomprlses a cable 28 which, except for the insertion of the spring 29 which keeps it taut,.is continuous and'is guided by eyelets 30 at the top and bottom of one of the piers. This cable 28 extends through an eye 31 in tl e upper portion of the span 13 and has a pair of buttons 32 and 33 which will not pass through the eye 31. The button 32 is located at the lower end of the cable 28 so as to be struck by the eye 31 as the span 13 approaches its closed position at which time part of the cable carrying the buttons 32 and 33 is pulled down while the button 33 is located at the upper end of the piers so as to be struck by the eye 31 when the span approaches the upper limit of its movement. Thecable 28 is connected to a switch 34 which renders the motor inoperative when it is shifted from one position to another.

This switch is a snap switch and has an arm 35 connected to the cable and pivotally mounted on a stud 36 and normally held at limits of its movement defined by stops 37 by a spring 38. When the cable 28 is pulled, the arm 35 carries the lower end of the spring 38 across the axis of the stud 36 so that the spring will then complete the movement of the arm to bring it against the opposite stop37. The switch also comprises a disk 39 connected to the arm 35 by a pin-andslot con'nection iO and this disk has contact arms 41 and 42. Hence, when the spring is carried across the axis of oscillation of the arm 35, the disk 39 does not move until the arm reaches a predetermined point whereupon it is picked up and rotated'by-the arm to shift the contact arms 11 and 42 from engagement with the cooperating contacts which they previously engaged and open the circuit leading to the motor, as will hereinafter appear.

The bri ge Qft p esent nwentwa my swam be used in a toy railway system where the train merely is intended to pass over the bridge while'soine other movable object is intended to pass under it; but preferably, as indicated in Fig. 5, it may be used in a course of tracks 43 so as to be inserted in one portion thereof and be in train-intercepting relation with another portion thereof. That is to say, the bridge 44 of'this invention may be connected to portions 45 and 46 of the course of tracks and in so doing may overlie a portion 47 of the course of tracks which'in this case approximates Fig. 8. In this tarrangement, it will be observed that the train 48 first passes under the bridge and then over it in the process of which considerable amusement and pleasure is had by the child in observing the movements of the train and the bridge.

In such. an arrangement it is preferable and extremely advantageous to have the opening and closing movements of the bridge controlled by the train in its approach to ward the bridge either to cross or pass under the same. This is provided for by the present invention, in the form herein shown, by arranging switches 49 and 50 in the course of tracks so as to be engaged and closed by the train. These switches 49 and 50, may, of course, be placed at any appropriate or desired place in the course of tracksthat is, they may be placed as shown in Fig. 5-in position to be operated just after the train has passed over or under the bridge or they may be operated just before the train reaches the bridge to pass over it or under it. In the form shown, the switches 49 and each comprises a blade 51 overlying but insulated from the third rail 16 and in position to be brought into contact with the third rail when the train 48 passes over the point where it is located. These switches 49' and 50 preferably only initiate the operation of V the actuating mechanism 17 and hence they are in circuit with contact means 52 which closes the motor circuit upon the momentary engagement of the switch blades 51 with the third rail and keep the motor circuit closed until it is temporarily opened by the switch 34 upon the arrival ofthe span at either'its closed or opened position.

This contact means comprises a pair of electromagnets 53 and 54 each connected to a wire 55 to the switches 49 and 50 respectively, the other sides of the electromagnets being connected by wires 56'to the negative feed wire 57 so that when the switch 49or 50 is closed current will flow fromthe' positive feed wire 58 through the third rail, switch 49 or 50, wires '55, electromagnet 53 or 54 respectively, wires 56, to the negative feed wire 57. In the contact means shown, there is an armature 59 between the electromagnets 53 and 54 and this armature isnot biased to move in either one direction or another and remains at either electromagnet, according to which was energized last.

With the parts in the positions as shown in V Fig. 54, the switch 49 controlling the closing of the span'l3 was last closed and its associated' electroniagnet 53 last energized. Hence, the armature 59 lies adjacent the'electromagnet 53. Carried by the armature 59 is a contact blade 60 adapted to engage either a'contact 61 or a contact 62, depending upon whether the armature 59 is adjacent the electromagnet 53 or 54. The switch blade is connected by a wire .63 leading to a'commutator brush 64 of the motor 22' while the contact 61 is connected by a wire 65 to a contact point 66 adapted to be engaged by the contact blade 42 on the reversing switch 34.

The contact 62 is connected by a wire 67 to the contact point 68 adapted to be engaged by the contact blade 41 on the reversing switch 34. The contact arm 1 41 on the switch is connect-ed to the negative feed wire 57 while the contact arm 42 is connected by a wire 69 to field 70 of the motor and the latter is connected to the positive feed wire 58. Hence, with the parts shown in the positions indicated in Fig. 4, the switch 49 has-been operated to cause the armature 59 to shift to the left and close the circuit including the following-switch blade 60, contact 61, wire 65,contact 66, contact arm 42 on the switch 34, wire 69, field 70 to the positive wire 58, from the negative wire 57 to the contact arm 41, contact 71 engaged thereby, wire 72 to brush 73, through the armature of the-motor 22, brush 64, wire 63 back to the switch blade.'60, and when the current flows in.tl1is direction the motor operates to wind the cable 20 on the drum 23,1ifting the span '13 of the bridge. When the span engages the button "33, the arm 35 of: the switch 34 is rocked. moving the contactarms 41 and'42 away from the contacts 71 and 66 respectivelyand thus opening the motor 011- cuit to render the motor temporarily inoperative to continue to move the span. In so moving, the contact arms 41 and 42 shift into engagement with contacts 68 and 74 respectively, the latter being connected by L'WllG 7-5 to thewir'e'72 leading to the brush 73 while the former, that is contact 68, is connected by thewire 67 to the contact point 62 which at that time is not engaged by the switch blade 60. Y I r However, wh'enthe train 48 engages the switch50 after passing under the bridge, the 'electromagnet 54 is energized drawing the armature 59 tothe right so that the switch blade 60 engagesthe contact 62. The circuit thus closed includes the following-contact 62, wire 67, contact 68,contact arm 41 of the switch 34, negative supply wire 57, positive supply wire 58, field 7 0 of the motor 22, wire 69, contactarnr42 of the switch 34, contact 74, wire75, wire 72 to the brush 73,

through the armature of the motor to the brush 64, wire 63, switch blade 60, back to the contact 62, and this causes the motor to rotate in the direction which will turn the drum 23 so as to unwind the cable 21 therefrom and allow the span 23 to descend until the button 32 is engaged whereupon the snap switch 3 f is operated to move the contact armstl and 42 back to the contacts 71 and 66 respectively, so asto render the motor temporarily inoperative and condition the circuits for the next operation of the track switch 49.

\Vith this arrangement, it is always assured that when the train approaches the bridge in the-direction to cross the same, the bridge will be closed and when the train approaches the bridge to pass under the same the bridge will be, opened. Should the train be placed on the tracks heading in the direction to cross over the bridge while the bridge is closed, the operation of the track switch will have no effect on the actuating mechanism because the armature 51 was shifted with the contact blade 60 in engagement withthe contact 62 in the last operation of closing the bridge.

In order to connect the tracks 15 and third rail 16 carried by the span 13 of the bridge to the like parts in the armature of the system, the tracks and third rail are provided with contacts 76 (see Fig. 3) which are engaged by the tracks and third .rail of the span when it is in its closed position.

As stated above, one of the important features of this invention is the provision of. means for automatically controlling the train so that the latter will be stopped from attempting to pass over the bridge orunder the bridge while the bridge is moving to opened or closed position respectively. This is done by controlling the currentsupply to the tracks coordinatelywith the movement of the span 13. In. the specific embodiment of this invention shown, this.

means is designed for use with so-called automatically remote controlled electric engines. These engines are supplied with switch mechanism and an armature or the like which at each interruption of the supply current operates the switch one step. In the usual arrangement, the switch is so 7 arranged that assuming thatthe train is traveling forwardly, the first interruption of the current in the track circuitcauses the switch to move" to neutral position at which the train is stopped. The next interruption causes the engine to move in reverse. The next interruption causes the engine to stop, and the next interruption again causes the engine to travel forwardly.

Accordingly, the feed wire 58 leading to the third rail is interrupted and has a lilades 7 8 are connected. These switch blades at 77 across which a pair of switch are normally engaged so'a-s to complete the geared to the drum that it makes one revolir tion for a number of revolutionswhich the drum requires to raise or lower the span 13 and the cam isv arranged so that when the span is completely opened and completely closed, the positive supply wire circuit is closed. I I v \Vhile the bridge is still in either closed or'openedposition, the track supply circuit which includesv the switch blades 78 is kept closed by the lobe 82 on the cam 79 which engages a follower 83 on one of the switch arms. \Vhen,however, the span is moved away from its normal positions either in opening or closing direction, a dwell 84 on either side of the lobe 82 reaches the follower 83 and allows the circuit to be opened so that the train stops. During the movement of the span, the cam 79 continues to turn and somewhere between its terminal positions three lobs 85 on the cam reach the follower. the track circuit so that the impulses thereby produced will operate the automatic mechanism in the train so that when the lobe 82 again-engages the follower at the time the bridge is completely open or completely closed, the train will start up and continue to go in the intended direction. The first of these three lobes 85 causes the engine of the train to be shifted to neutral, the second causes the engine to beshifted to reverse and start up in reverse direction but, as the contact is only momentary, the engine does not move any substantial dis tance, the third oftheselobes 85 causes the These lobes momentarily close engine-to. again be shifted to neutral so that i when the lobe 82 is reached the engine will start forward. 1

In the modifications of this invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, a slightly different form of bridge is shown. In this case, the abutments 11a are joined to an arch 84 containing a single actuating mechanism 17a for lifting both ends of the bridge with-a single motor 22. In this form ofthe invention, the span is guided by guide rods 85 passing through holes 86 in the ends of the span. 1

WVhile in this instance a single motor 22 is employed to raise and lower the span 130,, it should be understood that the actuating mechanisnrllw maybe identical with the actuating mechanism 17 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in all re spects, including the automatic reversing switch 3,4,the contactor means 53, .59, 54; and the train control means including the contacts 78 and cam 7-9,

Variations and modifications maybe made wowtions of the improvements may be used ,proaches; and a span 'movably mounted to permit the passage of movable objects beneath or upon it.

2. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for a toy railway train; a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and including a span movable to closed and opened s positions and in the latter forming a gap in the course of tracks; actuating means for moving the bridge to and from closed and opened positions; means in the course of tracks for initiating the operation of the acuating means when-the train thereon reaches a predetermined point in approaching the bridge; means operated .when the span reaches closed or opened positions for rendering the actuating means inoperative; means operated when the span 1s between closed and opened posit onsfor stopping the train from continuing to approach the bridge; and means for restoring the train when the bridge reaches closed or open positions. p V

3. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for a toy railway train and a bridge structure inserted in the course of tracks and including a movable span adapt ed to overlie in train-intercepting relation another part of the course of tracks. 7 g

at. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for atoy railway train; a bridge structure inserted in the course of tracks andincluding a movable span adapted to overlie-in train-intercepting relation another part of the course of tracks; and actuating means for moving the span to closed position in which the'train maypass over the span and to open position in which the train may pass under the span.

structure inserted, in the course of tracks and including a movable span adapted to overlie in train-intercepting relation. an-

a so

other part of the course of tracks; actuating means for moving the span to closed position in which the train fmaypass overthe span and to open position inwhich the train may pass under thespan; thespan in moving to the latter position forming a gap in the course of tracks ;.and means in the course of tracks for initiating the operation of the actuating means to cause the latter to move the span to closedposition- :when thetrain! on the tracks reaches a predetermined point in'appr'oaching the vbridge to cross the span.

6. .A toy; railway systemhavi'ng a course of tracks for a toy railway train abridge position.

structure inserted in thecourse of tracks and including a movable span adapted to overlie 1n tra1n- 1nterceptmg relation another part of the course of tracks; actuating on the tracks reaches a predetermined position in approaching the bridge to cross the span; means operated coordinately with the movement of the span and operative when the span is traveling toward closed'position for stoppingthe train from continuing to approach the'bridge; and means for restarting the train when the span reaches closed :71 A toy railwaysystem having a course of tracks for a toy railway train; a bridge structure inserted in the course of tracks and including a movable span adapted to overlie in train-intercepting relation another part of the course of tracks; actuating means for moving the span to closed position in which the train may passo-ver the span and to open position in' which the strain may pass under the span, the span in 7 moving to the latter position forming a gap in the courseof tracks; means in the course of tracks for initiating the operation of the actuating means to cause the latter'to move the span 'to closed position when thetrain on the tracks reaches a predetermined point in approaching the bridge to cross the span;

and means operated coordinately with the movement of the span and operative when the span is traveling toward closed position for delaying the continued approach of the train toward the bridge until thespan' is closed. i j, A I a V I 8 A toy railway system having a course of tracks for a toy railway train; a bridge structure inserted in the course of tracks and including a movable span adapted to overliie in train-intercepting relationanother part of the course of tracks; actuating means for moving the span to closed, position in which the train may pass over the span and to open position in which the train 7 course of tracks; means in the course of tracks for initiating the operation of the actuating means to'cause the latter to move the span to'closed position when the train on the tracks reaches, a predetermined point in approaching the bridge to cross the span;

means operated 'coordinatelywith themovement ofithe span and operative when the span is travelingtoward closed positionefori,

overlie in train-intercepting relation another otherjpart'of the course of tracks; actuat 'msmechami m r m s t pa to delaying the continued approach of the train toward the bridge until the span is closed; and means operated when the span is closed for rendering the actuating mechanism temporarily inoperative.

9. Army railway system having a course of tracks for a toy railway train; a bridge structure inserted in the course of tracks and including a movable span adapted to part of the course of tracks; actuating means for moving the span to closed position in which the train may pass over the span and to open position in which the train may pass under the span, the span in moving to the latter position forming a gapin the course of tracks means. in the course of tracks for initiating the operation of the actuating means to cause thelatter to move the span to closed position when the train on the tracks reaches a predetermined point in approaching the bridge to cross the span;

means operated coordinately with the movement of the span and operative when the span is traveling toward closed position for delay ng he continued approach of the train toward the bridge until the span is closed; means operated when the span is closed for rendering the actuating mechanism temporarily inoperative; and means in the course of tracks for initiating the operation of the actuatingmeans to cause the'latter to move the span to open position to allow the train to passunder the span when the train approaches the bridge at an intersecting angle. 10 A toy railway system having a course of tracks for a toy railway train; a brid e structure inserted in the course of trac s and including a movable span adapted to overlie in train-intercepting relation another part of the course of tracks; actuating means] for moving the span to closed position in which the train may pass over the v I span and to open position in which the tram may P ss-und r the pa a d automatic means including a switch controlled coordinately' with the movement of the span and means in the'course of tracks operated by the train approaching the bridge to cross under or over the bridge for causing the span, it open, to close when the train approaches the bridge to cross over the span and to cause the span, if closed, to open when the trai pp 'Qa9h t b ge t s under the'span.

11 A toy railway system having a course of tra clrs for atoy railway train; a bridge structure inserted n the course of tracks and incluling a movable'span adapted to overlie in train-intercepting relation an- "closed position in which the train-may pass over the spanand to open position in which automatic means including a "switch controlled coordinately with the movement of the span and means in the course of tracks operated by; the train approaching the bridge open when the train approaches the bridge to go under the span, and also including a switch device operated coordinately with the movement of the span for delaying the continued approach of the train toward the bridge until the span has either opened or.

closed according towhether the train approaches the directioirto pass under or over the bridge. 7 7

12;. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains having stopping, starting and reversing mechanism controllable from a remote point; a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and including a movable span closinga gap in the course of tracks; actuating means for moving the bridge to and from closed position; and means operated coordinately with the actuating means for causing the train to be stopped, reversed, and stopped again while the bridge is approaching closed position and for causing the train to be restarted when the span reaches closed position.

13. A toyrailway system having a course of tracks'for use with toy railway trains; a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and including a movable span closing a gap in the 'course of tracks when in operative position; actuating means formoving the bridge to and from said operative position including an electric motor; and means operated by the train in approaching the bridge for initiating the operation of the actuatingm'eans; f I

14. Atoy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toyrailway trains; a bridge inserted inthe course of tracksand incliiding'a movable span closing a gap in thecour'se of tracks when in operative position; actuating ;means for "moving" the bridge to and from said operative position means, said means including switches on'the tracks; and 'contactor means associated therewith and the actuating means including a reversing switch whereby the span will be opened and closed alternatingly as the train alternately reaches and operates the said switches on the tracks. I i Y 15. toy railway system having a course of tracks 'for use withtoy railway trains; bridge inserted in the course of tracks and includingamovable span closing a gap in the coui se.oftracks when in operative posir a portable unitary structure a.

tion; actuating means for moving the bridge to and from said operative position including an electric motor; means operated by the train in approaching the bridge for initiating the operation of the actuating means, said means including switches on the tracks; and contactor means associated therewith and the actuating means including a reversing switch whereby the span will be opened and closed a-lternatingly as the train alternately reaches and operates the said switches on the tracks, said reversing switch being controlled by the movement of the span upon its arrival at operative and inoperative positions and being in series with the contactor means so as to 7 open the motor circuit upon the arrival of the span at either operative or inoperative positions. a

16. A toy railway bridge comprising as base; piers secured to the base; a span movable with relation to the piers and base and having rails thereon; and approaches for each end of the span also having rails thereon and adapted to align with the rails on the movable span when the span is closed.

17. A toy railway bridge comprising as a unitary structure, piers; and a span movably mounted on said piers to permit the passage of movableobjeots beneath or upon it. c

18. A bridge structure adapted to be inserted in a course of toy railway tracks, including a movable span adapted to overlie in train intercepting relation another part of the course of tracks.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfiield, and State of Connecticut, this 22nd day of December, 1930.

RONALD G. SMITH. 

